Dali's Llama - Raw Is Real

Would you believe Dali's Llama have just released their 8th album, I bet most of you haven't most of them, if not all of them. This is a tragedy as this band is one of the most truest, most dedicated stoner rockers in the world of fuzzed out desert rock riffarama. Their last 2 albums "Full on Dunes and 2007’s Sweet Sludge" show the quality the band can produced as both albums delivered so many cool grooves and no-frills hard rock. Dali’s Llama’s production partnership continues on this album with Scott Reeder (The Obsessed, Kyuss)and it must be said the production on this CD is smokin hot! This album has a heavier, rawer, darker feel about it but still retains all the Dali's Llama's trademark riff oriented chugging rock and roll attitude. There is so many ass-kicking moments on the disc like on "Hell No" when they deliver one of the most ball tearing solo's you will ever hear. This is the real shit in terms of desert rock, total rocking that is pretty clean sounding really but once again its the attitude and the conviction they deliver within the songs that is the key.

"Syphilization" has one killer riff which makes me relise why I got into stoner rock in the first place, the guitar duo of Huskey and Dillion just breathes fire into the songs with the guitar sound right up in the mix. There is a little change of pace with "Always" which has a lay back mellow, psychedelic type of groove going on but most of this album is full of pure psyche rock grooves, a good example would be "Blackout" and they even put some groove into a punky number called "Grump". "Theocracy" has a cutting sound, both musically and lyrically but still keeps a intensity going even though its a pretty slow track. I didn't get no lyric sheet but from what I can figure out, the lyrics are slightly political which is unusual for a band of this ilk but they not only pulled it off but they sound honest, convincing and genuine. The title track "Raw Is Real" is pure Kyuss meets Monster Magnet and gets the album off to a exciting start, the vocal sound of Zach Huskey is sounding better than ever on this tune.

The album ends with the feedback rich closer "Fluids", not what I would call a standout track but a fitting way to end a album of this magnitude. Elsewhere on the album you will find the cuts "Slug Man" and "Eve's Navel", good tracks in their own right but a little less memorable than the rest of the disc. This is a minor quibble however as not many bands manage to squeeze this many good tracks on a album these days. Along with the impressive guitar sounds of Huskey and Dillion, you also get the thick, very warm bass tones of Erica Huskey which not only adds some nice bottom to the sound but it also compliments the drumming of Jeff Howe perfectly. Dali's Llama are basically desert rock for the experienced desert rocker, the kind of listener that has grown up on Kyuss but there is also kind of 70's rock groove that echoes the sounds of groups like The Groundhogs, The Edgar Broughton Band, Savoy Brown and The James Gang only with more of a gritty attitude.

The cool and also slightly unique thing about the band is their ability to be totally rocking in a swampy way but remaining totally assessable and catchy. Let's face it, most stoner/desert rock band died years ago with the best bands long gone or only mere shadows of their former selves and keep in mind the amount of imitators from the cities that jumped the desert band-wagon all those years ago, where are they know ?
Its with this philosophy I am glad there is still a band like Dali's Llama to fly the desert rock flag and fly it with honesty, dedication and a sense of fun, not to mention loads of good old grooves. Give it a listen, this should be the album to get you hooked if not so already. Out on Dali's Llama Records. 9/10

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